1 Cor. 14 The Gathered Church

The Gathered Church

Chair Bible p. 960

Necessity of teaching through this text in its entirety…being clear. Walk through the text in context. (I will likely not answer all of your questions—)Questions can be helped by understanding the main idea...

When we gather…are we primarily hundreds of individuals worshipping the Lord or are we one body worshipping the Lord? Corinth was functioning as individuals…Paul calls them function as a body.

Main Idea: When the body of Christ gathers for worship, everything must be done decently and in order for the building up of the body.

Prophecy and tonques are not the main idea…issues surrounding them have given way to the main idea...

Define terms:

Prophecy: Some mean preaching…proclaiming the Word of God. Others mean…speaking a message given to the prophet by God directly. A word from God. The NT meaning is one who speaks the words of God. We believe the Scripture is complete. God speaks through his sufficient Word. Therefore, the in the true sense of the word, the office and gift of prophecy has ceased. However, the proclamation of the Word of God among the people of God remains central. The need for the particular gift of prophecy may have ceased but the need for speaking gifts that clearly proclaim the revealed Word of God has not.

Others mean…speaking a message given to the prophet. A word from God.

Tongues: gift of speaking human languages not ecstatic languages. Interpreted and understood in a shared language.

Acts 2:6–8 ESV

6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

We believe the Scripture is complete. God speaks through his sufficient Word.

Acts 2:7–8 ESV

7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Acts 2

The core issue at hand is not prophecy and tongues. They serve as a point of reference and illustration of how the gathering of the church can become distracted by selfish and experiential behavior of some or all.

Paul’s concern is the pursuit of love, the building up of the body, and clear communication carried out decently and in order(not to be confused with formal).

When the body of Christ gathers for worship, everything must be done for the building up of the body.

Necessity of love and the desire for building up of the body

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Pursue love—flowing out of …

earnestly desire the spiritual gifts—gifts cannot be ignored, must be understood rightly

“so that the church might be built up”

Contrast the right use of tongues and prophecy what was being practiced in Corinth…long, non-yielding prophecies and multiple tongue speakers with no interpretation—no one understood (v. 2)

On the other hand…prophecy was to be for

upbuilding and encouragement and consolation v/s personal experience (unless someone interprets) which implies that the interpretation results in the same outcome of prophecy…upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

These three word reflect a deep concern for others…(Ciampa, 672)

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

There are many other things that believers may find themselves interested in doing in worship which they find spiritually satisfying or beneficial for themselves, but which may not edify those gathered with them, or worse, which may serve as a distraction to others or otherwise detract from the edifying nature of the time spent together in worship. Love calls for all believers to exercise discernment in the use of our spiritual gifts, preferring those that will make the greatest contribution to the health of the body over ones that we might personally prefer to practice or that would seem to bring us greater respect or esteem (or power) in the community. (Ciampa 674)

v. 5 prophecy is greater as it relates to communication and function…prophecy is others focused and understood by all.

Necessity of intelligible speech Paul use the verb “to speak” 24 times in this chapter.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

How will my speaking benefit you unless you understand what I am saying...

He offers illustrations

7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Follow logic of v. 10-11…tongues must have meaning not just an impression of meaning.

v. 12 pushes the believer beyond the focus on the gift (personal experience) to the purpose of the gift…the building up of the church. The purpose of speaking is to instruct others, not to display one’s spiritual gift. (Schreiner 290)

How can the church be built if not one understands what is being said?

How do you know you have understanding? an outsider can say “amen”

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Personal expression and experience must not take precedence over...

Clarity and concern for others. (v. 19)

Colossians 4:2–4 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Clear and intelligible speech must give way to...

Necessity of gospel clarity

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

Reference to . The Lord sent the Assyrians as a message of judgment to the people of Israel.

22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

v. 22 is confusing as to the transition exactly. The point becomes clear in v. 23. Necessity of clarity for the outsider. Do not want to create the impression that we are out of our minds.

Illus: Another issue...Using predominately words that only christians understand...

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Unintelligible good news is not even news, let alone good. (Piper, God Is the Gospel)

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

If on the other hand, the gospel is clear in speech, the Lord will bring conviction to the hearts ad minds of unbelievers, calling them to faith.

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

How do we seek to assure gospel clarity?

When the body of Christ gathers for worship, everything must be done decently and in order for the building up of the body.

Order in place of confusion

Prescriptive or descriptive. It appears that Paul is explaining an orderly way forward for the church at Corinth.

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

Building up of the body not the personal gratification or self promotion. see v. 31

Very specific tempering of the use of tongues and prophecy reveals that the prophets were talking too long and some would not yield to others. Tongue speakers were all speaking at once.

Simply stated: the argument that the “Spirit was leading me” is not an excuse for confusion and domination. The gifts can and should be tempered for the sake of order.

27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Acts 17:11 ESV

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Women causing confusion in the weighing of what the prophets are saying...

Individuals refusing to submit to apostolic teaching.

Submission instead of tension

He now addresses other ways they were creating confusion...

Women causing confusion in the weighing of what the prophets were saying...

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

Does Paul mean that a woman should never speak up in the gathering of the church?

1 Corinthians 11:4–5 ESV

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Paul is not contradicting himself. He is saying that a woman, specifically a wife, is not to challenge the prophets but to ask her husband at home? Cultural confusion created by a woman speaking over her husband in public.

Paul does not address what it specifically, how about a single woman? speak to an Elder.

Now he addresses another manner of creating confusion...Individuals who refuse to submit to apostolic teaching.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Similar message in 1 John 4

1 John 4:6 ESV

6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Paul speaking from apostolic authority calls on the Corinthians to heed what he is saying…

decent and in order

do not overreact and toss out the spiritual gifts.

“do not forbid speaking in tongues” Calls for more questions…Why have tongues been a rare thing since the protestant reformation? Why are they rare today? Where tongues are spoken, are they practiced in accord with ?

What do we do? The answer is found in the final phrase. with another question. Would tongue speaking in this local church lead to disorder and confusion.?

This issue caused a deep divide in Parkwood in the mid 70’s. Pastor Owens preached a sermon from addressing the matter. Here is a quote from the sermon…p. 79.

He also acknowledges that we learned from the charismatic to lossen our grip on formalism which can stifle the work of the Spirit.

So What?

we are not facing the issues of Corinth, or the conflict of Parkwood in 70’s. What tendencies and behaviors are having an effect on our worship?

Consumerism

Passive observation (media influence)

When we gather as the body of Christ, are we selfish consumers, passive observers, or loving participants?

Colossians 3:12–17 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

What is at stake?

The building up of the body

the clarity of the gospel.

Email from a young couple:  “We love the focus on God’s Word and how diligently you stay to the text and it’s context.  I’ve never seen a book come alive as much as I have find myself hungry to learn more.  Sunday is a day that we most look forward to. I can say the same for our growth group.  They have taken us in so quickly and it has been amazing to see how God has grown us in this short period of time.  It’s been a rejuvenating time for both my wife and I. We are both working (toward) getting involved and trying to serve as well, which is very exciting.”

Prayer for Offering

Hurting families

Wisdom as it relates to the corona virus.

Exodus, Battleground, 7 Oaks, Redemption Hill

Giving

Sending

Colossians 4:2–4 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

END